534 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 23, 1887. 
E. D. Blackjiore. —"When exhibited, both foliage 
and scape were short, the latter bearing the very 
ommon number of four flowers. These were large, and 
eavily flamed with crimson on a white ground, having 
a pale green midrib at the base of each segment. 
Exhibited by Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, 
Cheshunt. Floricultural Certificate. 
Edith M. Wynne. —For the description of this showy 
variety, see p. 518. Exhibited by Messrs. J. Yeitch & 
Sons, Chelsea. Floricultural Certificate. 
H. P. Rose, The Puritan. 
For the description of this fine Rose, see pp. 518 
and 522. Exhibited by Messrs. Wm. Paul &; Son, 
Waltham Cross. Floricultural Certificate. 
Auriculas. 
Tiresias. —This is a deep velvety-maroon self, with 
a well-defined and copious white paste and a yellow 
tube; the flowers are large, bold, and present a fine 
appearance ; the foliage is ample and mealy. 
Rev. Charles Kingsley. — The flowers of this 
variety are large, deep violet-purple and self-coloured, 
with a white paste and a pale creamy yellow tube. 
The particular tint of the flower is rather difficult to 
describe, as it appears blue or purple, according to the 
incidence of the sun’s rays and the position of the 
beholder. 
Montrose. —The flowers of this form show it as 
belonging to the grey-edged section, with a white paste 
and a dark violet feathery band, external to the green 
ground colour. All exhibited by Mr. J. Douglas, Great 
Gearies, Ilford. Floricultural Certificates. 
-•«<-- 
THE GARDENERS’ ORPHAN 
FUND. 
The following is a copy of the circular which has 
been posted to gardeners throughout the country during 
the past week, with a view to eliciting a definite ex¬ 
pression of opinion as to the amount of support the 
scheme is likely to receive :—“A general desire having 
been expressed by gardeners in Great Britain and 
Ireland to join, as a body, in marking in an appropriate 
manner a great historical event—the fiftieth anni¬ 
versary of the reign of the Sovereign of these realms, 
it has been found, after much discussion, that the form 
which best embodies their sentiments is the establish¬ 
ment of a fund for the succour of gardeners’ children 
who have lost one or both parents, and have thus been 
left helpless. 
“The suggestions made on this subject by Mr. 
Penny, of Sandringham, Mr. Clayton, of Grimston 
Hall, Tadcaster, and ill'. Udale, ElfordHall, Tamworth, 
were discussed at a representative meeting of horti¬ 
culturists, held at South Kensington on March 22nd, 
and it was unanimously agreed that in the opinion of 
those present it was desirable to establish a fund for the 
relief and assistance of the orphan children of gardeners, 
to be called ‘The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund,’ and a pro¬ 
visional committee was appointed to prepare a scheme 
for carrying the same into elfect, the gentlemen nomin¬ 
ated to serve on such committee being Dr. Masters, 
Gardeners’ Chronicle ; Mr. Shirley Hibberd, Gardeners’ 
Magazine ; Mr. G. Deal (Messrs. John Weeks & Co.) ; 
Mr. James Douglas, Great Gearies, Ilford ; Mr. J. 
Fraser, Lea Bridge ; Mr. C. Penny, Sandringham ; 
Mr. C. H. Sharman (Messrs. James Carter & Co.) ; 
Mr. H. J. "V eitch, Chelsea ; Mr. J. Roberts, Gunners- 
burv Park ; Mr. J. Woodbridge, Syon House ; Mr. A. 
F. Barron, Chiswick; Mr. R. Dean, Ealing ; Mr. J. 
Matthews, Weston - super - Mare ; Mr. J: Wright, 
Journal of Horticulture ; Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper 
Holloway; Mr. W. Richards, Gardeners' Chronicle; 
Mr. B. Wynne, Gardening World. 
‘ ‘ The committee, having well considered the manner 
in which the aims of the promoters of the fund can be 
best carried into effect, have drafted the outlines of a 
scheme, the main features of which may be briefly stated 
as follows :— 
1. Title. — The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
2. Its Objects . — To make grants or allowances of 
money towards the maintenance of the orphans of gar¬ 
deners. 
A. Bg Allowances . —To consist of any sum not 
exceeding 5s. per week to children between the ages 
of 3 and 14 years, that may be placed with relatives, 
Or other responsible persons acting as guardians, 
within the knowledge of the committee. 
B. By Boarding-out .— This to consist of free board, 
clothing and education for children between the ages of 
5 and 14 years. 
C. By the purchase of admission to some existing 
institution. 
3. Qualification of Candidates. —All candidates 
must be (1) orphans of persons who have been gar¬ 
deners, and (2) be nominated by two subscribers or 
donors to the fund. No child to be considered eligible 
for the fund until 3 years old, or receive support after 
attaining the age of 14 years. 
4. Mode of Election to the Fund.. —By the votes of 
subscribers and donors only. 
5. Voting Power of Subscribers. —Subscribers of 5s. 
per annum shall be entitled to one vote at each election ; 
subscribers of 10s. to two votes ; of £ 1, to four votes ; 
of £2, to eight votes, and so on in like proportion. 
Life donations of £5 shall entitle the donors to one 
vote at every election ; of £10, to two votes ; of £20, 
to four votes, and so on in proportion. Annual sub¬ 
scriptions shall be due on the 1st of January. 
“The scheme does not make provision for establish: 
ing any building or school, the committee considering 
it neither desirable nor practicable at present to entertain 
such a project; but should the fund at any future 
time assume such proportions as to render it desirable 
to erect or purchase a building, special arrangements 
can be made for the purpose. 
“The committee propose at an early date to call a 
public meeting in London (of which due notice will be 
given), to discuss the scheme they have prepared, and, 
if approved of, to appoint officers in London and the 
provinces for carrying the same into effect. In the 
meantime the committee believe the orphan fund will 
be well supported by the affluent, if gardeners them¬ 
selves will show by the amount of support they accord 
to the scheme, that they appreciate the benefits which 
an adequate fund, capably administered, will confer. 
“ As it will depend entirely upon the response that 
is made to this appeal, whether the committee will feel 
justified in attempting to carry out the project, we ask 
you to give the matter your earnest consideration, and 
to inform us whether you approve of the objects of the 
movement, and will support the fund, by a donation 
or annual subscription, and by using your influence 
with your employers and friends so as to obtain their 
assistance. ” 
-- 
PEACHES. 
Has our climate become more unfavourable to the 
successful cultivation of the Peach than it was from 
thirty to forty years ago ? Well remembering that 
complaints were then current that owing to a change in 
the seasons they could not be so well grown as they 
were in bygone years, we_, sometimes ask ourselves if 
the change is not more imaginary than real; for 
though we often have two or three wet cold seasons in 
succession, which prove very detrimental to this fruit, 
they are usually followed by a series of warmer and 
drier ones in which crops are gathered from walls com¬ 
paring favourably with the best indoor productions. 
There are often causes in operation other than 
climatic, which militate against the production of a 
satisfactory crop of this highly esteemed fruit, amongst 
which unsuitable soils and badly drained borders may 
be mentioned ; but as the season has passed in which 
steps can be taken to remedy these defects, we will not 
dwell upon them, but offer a few remarks that may be 
of service to some during the ensuing season. Two very 
common mistakes are often made during the period of 
growth, namely, overcrowding by the laying-in of too 
much wood, and neglecting to attack and destroy insect 
pests and mildew until the young growth is seriously 
checked if not totally destroyed. The trees in their 
struggle for life start into fresh growth often after mid¬ 
summer, and this wood formed so late in the season 
cannot be properly matured before winter, which finds 
trees thus circumstanced with few and badly-developed 
buds ill-fitted to withstand the vicissitudes of spring. 
Peach trees during the growing season, from a variety 
of circumstances, do not get in many places that 
amount of attention which they require, and, 1 think, 
deserve. Flour of sulphur is the best antidote for the 
mildew, and Tobacco-water for the destruction of aphis. 
The frequent use of the syringe or garden engine will 
do much towards keeping both the fly and red-spider at 
bay. The other too common fault is the laving-in of too 
much young growth, which many will plead is necessary 
for selection at the winter pruning. Now a Peach tree 
well managed should require very little pruning at that 
season. Disbudding ought to be taken in hand at the 
earliest possible moment, and no more shoots be allowed 
on the trees than are required to furnish the wall, each 
shoot being sufficiently distant from its neighbour to 
ensure a perfect exposure for fruit and leaf. Every ray 
of sunlight should be utilised for the benefit of the 
growths destined to bear the ensuing year’s crop, as 
well as maturing that of the current season. On well- 
established trees one growth at the bottom of each shoot, 
and the leading one, will generally be enough to cover 
the wall. More than this is worse than useless, and 
any gross growths should either be removed or stopped. 
It will rarely happen, where these simple ideas are well 
carried out, but that winter will find trees thus treated 
furnished with well-ripened wood studded with flower 
buds, which, being plump and fully developed, are in a 
much better condition to cope with unfavourable weather 
during the spring, than those which from neglect have 
been a prey to insects, and smothered with too much 
growth. I think the more extended planting of the 
earlier kinds would be advantageous, for they naturally 
ripen their wood earlier in the season than the older and 
later ripening varieties.— W. B. G. 
-- 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL 
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. 
"We have received from Mr. Cutler a copy of a 
circular letter dated the 20th inst., and signed by Mr. 
John Lee, chairman of the committee, and Mr. Harry 
J. Yeitch, treasurer, the nature of which may be 
gleaned from the following extracts : — 
“ Whilst the members of nearly every society in the 
United Kingdom are evincing their loyalty to the 
Queen upon the occasion of the completion of the 
fiftieth year of her reign, it would not be becoming 
that the horticulturists of England should be behind 
in showing the respect they owe to their Sovereign. 
“In anticipation of this eventful year the pension 
list was, in January last, increased to 122 recipients, 
and in order to further mark this interesting occasion 
the committee consider that, as Her Majesty is the 
patroness of the Institution, the best plan for cele¬ 
brating the event will be to make a grant of £5 to each 
of the Pensioners, and to each unsuccessful candidate 
at the late election, in all 133 persons, and thus allow 
these poorer brethren of the horticultural world an 
opportunity of participating in the general rejoicing.” 
To defray the extra expenses thus entailed, and to 
carry out the above scheme, the committee are sending 
out collecting cards, and express their earnest hope that 
those who receive them will do their utmost to assist 
them in their endeavours to promote the happiness and 
comfort of so many poor and deserving horticulturists, 
and secure the sum of £1,000, which is the amount 
required. The committee also suggest that the card 
should be submitted to employers, experience having 
shown them that employers are, as a rule, not aware of 
the existence of the Institution, and would willingly 
subscribe to it were it brought to their notice. 
-- 
POLYANTHA ROSES. 
Y t hg can look upon the pretty small-flowered Roses 
of the Polyantha section, and not admire them greatly ! 
Take the two that were shown at the last meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society; aud of these two, one 
especially, named Golden Fairy, with its blossoms 
tinted with golden apricot in the centre, and having a 
paler exterior. This promises to make one of the most 
charming button-hole Roses that can be imagined, and 
it will also be very useful in bouquets. Then there was 
a tiny white one, of very dwarf growth, and very free 
indeed ; but the flowers lacked a certain fullness and 
symmetry, which might have resulted from the plant 
not being in good condition. 
Me may take it for granted that the Polyantha Roses 
come from R. multiflora, and they make very pretty 
pot plants. Some of the best are Anna Maria de 
Montravel, pure white, the flowers produced in large 
clusters of from thirty to sixty, and they remain a long 
time in perfection, besides continuing to be produced 
all the summer through. Madame Cecile Brunner, 
light pink or blush, is a plant of dwarf habit, and the 
blossoms are highly fragrant. Mignonette is one of the 
prettiest ; the soft rose flowers change almost to white, 
and it is one of the most charming of the group. 
Pacquerette has small and double pure white flowers ’ 
